A reception was held Thursday at the Roswell Chamber of Commerce for newly hired Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director John [auth] Mulcahy, center. (Jill McLaughlin Photo)

Newly hired Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director John Mulcahy was welcomed with a warm reception at the Chamber of Commerce Thursday.

“I can’t say enough nice things about him so far,” said Roswell Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dorrie Faubus-McCarty. “He’s already getting involved with the Chamber. In order to be successful, we all have to work together.”

Mulcahy began his new position Dec. 1. He relocated from Truth or Consequences, where he served most recently as mayor of the commission. He grew up in southern Arizona and has lived on the East Coast and in Texas.

He already has several goals for boosting economic development, he said.

“I would like to create job growth,” Mulcahy said. “I would like to grow our median household income, grow the tax base and preserve all the wonderful things in the community we have now.”

Mulcahy said he sees a great deal of potential at the air center, especially with its expansion of maintenance repair overhauls and partnering with area youth to create jobs.

“There is enormous opportunity to take young adults and give them skilled training to take the positions that become available at the air center,” he said.

Mulcahy was selected after a lengthy search following the retirement of Bob Donnell last year. Donnell announced his retirement in November 2012, after serving the EDC for 10 years.

The EDC’s primary objectives are to develop long-term job opportunities for Roswell and Chaves County and support growth initiatives for local businesses, including agriculture, food processing, general light manufacturing and aviation.

Mulcahy, who spent time during the two-hour reception speaking with several businessmen, and county and city officials, said he has found the city to be friendly.

“I really love this community,” Mulcahy said. “The people are really nice. It’s friendly. The town is clean. It’s moving in a direction that is really cool to me.”